New Met Office Storm Names Revealed With Several Set To Hit Cumbria.
The new list of storm names for the 2026/27 season has been revealed by the Met Office, with several names expected to become familiar across Cumbria if severe weather affects the region.
The list has been created jointly by the Met Office, Met Éireann and the Dutch national weather service KNMI. A total of 21 names have been selected for the coming storm season, which runs from September 2026 through to August 2027. The names include Austen, Boelo, Chloe, Dano, Evelyn, Finn, Gwendolyn, Heather, Ivy, Jade, Kilian, Laoise, Miriam, Nicola, Olaf, Phelim, Ruban, Shaun, Theo, Vesna and Wende.
One of the most unusual additions is Shaun, following a public vote held by the Met Office in partnership with Aardman, the creators of Shaun the Sheep. More than 40,000 suggestions were submitted by the public for this year's list. Several other names have personal stories behind them. Chloe, for example, was nominated more than 130 times, while Ivy was suggested in honour of a much-loved Labrador puppy.
Storm names are not simply chosen for every period of bad weather. They are used when forecasters believe a storm could have a medium or high impact, potentially bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, snow, flooding or significant disruption.
The naming system is designed to make severe weather warnings easier for people to recognise and remember, helping communities take appropriate action before dangerous conditions arrive. For Cumbria, where communities can be affected by heavy rainfall, strong winds, flooding and difficult travel conditions, named storms can provide an important focus for weather warnings and safety information.
The previous storm season saw four storms named, reaching Storm Dave in April 2026. The Met Office says storm naming has helped improve public awareness of severe weather and encouraged people to take action when warnings are issued. With the new season now beginning, residents across Cumbria will be watching forecasts closely as the autumn and winter months bring an increased risk of severe weather.
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